Shakopee board pauses vote on new elementary specialist schedule after public outcry

A proposal to move Shakopee Public Schools’ elementary specialist rotation from a 10‑day cycle to a 4‑day cycle and to take full fifth‑grade band outside the rotation was presented by district staff Jan. 20 and immediately drew extended public comment and board questions. After more than two hours of testimony and board discussion, the board voted to postpone the decision for two weeks.

The proposal, presented by Nika Sommer, assistant director of learning, teaching and equity, and Stephanie Vander, Eagle Creek principal representing the district’s elementary principals, would change the district’s specialist rotation so students receive one of four specialists — physical education, music/band, art and STEM — on one day in the four‑day rotation (25% each) instead of the current 10‑day cycle, which staff described as 40%/30%/20%/10% across those content areas. Sommer said the change is intended to address “operational structural challenges” in the current rotation, including specialists who see more than 1,200 students in a 10‑day period and large class sizes in some specialist sections.

The change would also move “full band” instruction out of the specialist rotation so band lessons and rehearsals could be scheduled separately, Sommer and Vander said. They emphasized the district is not proposing to reduce total band FTE or to eliminate concerts. “We’re not recommending to remove full band…